Adjustable revision guide

ABSTRACT

An axial height adjustable, revision cutting in the shape of a final distal femur implant component. The revision guide includes a rod adapted for intimate contact within an intramedullary canal of a femur, and includes a threaded passageway. The revision cutting guide is adapted for removable attachment to a distal portion of the femur. A vernier-bolt is rotatably positioned through the shaped body of the revision cutting guide so as to be adjustably received within the threaded passageway thereby providing for movement of the shaped body of the revision cutting guide relative to the distal portion of the femur.

This application claims priority from, and incorporates by reference intheir entirety, copending Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/259,780, filed Nov. 10, 2009, entitled Adjustable Revision Guide; andcopending Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/260,794, filed Nov.12, 2009, entitled Adjustable Revision Guide.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to surgical guides for revising the distalfemur of a patient undergoing total knee replacement therapy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Total knee replacement prostheses are known in the art. In manyinstances, a specially designed jig or fixture enables the surgeon tomake accurate and precise bone resections of the femoral surface inorder to accept such prostheses. The ultimate goal with any total kneeprosthesis is to approximate the function of the natural, healthystructures that the prosthesis is replacing. Should the prosthesis notbe properly attached to the femur any misalignment could result indiscomfort to the patient, gate problems, or degradation of theprosthesis.

For example, when attaching a knee prosthesis it is desirable to orientthe prosthesis such that the pivot axis of the knee joint lies within atransverse plane that is generally oriented perpendicular to themechanical axis of the femur. The mechanical axis lies along a linewhich intersects the femoral head and the center of the ankle. In theprior art, the mechanical axis had been determined from an inspection ofa radiograph of the femur to be resected prior to, or even during thesurgery. During the actual operation, the mechanical axis is determinedby computing its valgus angle from the femoral shaft axis. It is thennecessary to manually align any cutting guide and its fixtures withrespect to the femoral shaft axis in order to achieve an optimum cut.

Often such cutting guides include a femoral intramedullary stem which isinserted through a pre-drilled passage way formed in the intercondylarnotch and upwardly through the femur along the femoral shaft axis. Suchfemoral intramedullary stems often include a bracket which supports thedistal femur cutting guide. The bracket includes a first pin whichextends through the cutting guide to act as a pivot axis. A second pinis attached to the bracket so as to extend through an arcuate slot inthe cutting guide. The cutting guide included pairs of opposing slotsformed along its sides which are oriented so as to be perpendicular to acentral axis of symmetry of the cutting guide. When the cutting guide ispivoted, such that the central axis of symmetry lay along the mechanicalaxis, so as to form the appropriate angle with the femoral shaft axis,the cutting guide slots are positioned to be perpendicular to themechanical axis. The cutting guide is then locked into the predeterminedangle with the femoral shaft axis, and resection of the distal femur mayproceed.

Many examples of devices and methods may be found in the art forpreparing the distal femur for total knee arthroplasty, such as U.S.Pat. No. 7,172,597 which discloses a provisional component for use withdifferently sized first and second prosthetic orthopedic components. Theprovisional component has a configuration that is substantially similarto the first prosthetic component and has a predefined correspondence tothe second prosthetic component. The provisional component is mounted ona bone to assess the fit of the first prosthetic component. Theprovisional component includes a referencing element for defining areference point on the bone if the fit of the provisional componentindicates that the second prosthetic component should be used. Aninstrument guide is aligned with the reference point and used toproperly position a surgical instrument to prepare the bone to receivethe second prosthetic component. The provisional and prostheticcomponents may all be femoral components which have an articulatingsurface defining a single condylar-shaped projection.

U.S. Pat. No. RE39,301, incorporated herein by reference, discloses amethod and apparatus for knee replacement surgery in which a femoralprovisional component is provided which corresponds to a permanentcomponent to be implanted in a human. It includes structures suitablefor establishing the correct fit and position of such a component, priorto its implantation, in relation to the soft tissues of the knee beforefinal resection of the anterior femoral surface. The provisionalcomponent further includes a cutting guide for anterior surfaceresection such that accurate cuts may be made with the provisionalcomponent in place. The method involves preparing the distal femoralsurface using the femoral intramedullary canal as a constant referencepoint for posterior and distal cutting guides followed by locating theprovisional component by means of a provisional intramedullary stem sothat the relationship with the soft tissues of the knee may beaccurately established.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,010, incorporated herein by reference, disclosesbone cutting guides that appear to enable a surgeon to better gaugerequired resection characteristics. At least a portion of the guide istransparent, thereby enabling the user to optimize cut estimates and tovisualize the resection as it is being performed. At least a portion ofthe outer surface of the body is shaped to interact with another bone orprosthetic element associated with a joint, thereby enabling the deviceto function both as a trial and as a cutting guide.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,393 discloses a posterior stabilized femoral trialapparatus for preparing a patient's femur to receive a posteriorstabilized femoral prosthesis. The device includes a trial body withproximal and distal portions, the distal portion having an articulatingsurface for articulating with a patient's tibial component. A moduleselected from a kit fits the trial body at the proximal surface. Themodule includes a rasping surface that extends longitudinally. The trialbody includes cutting surfaces at the posterior condyles. The module isremovably attachable to the trial body at the proximal surface. Duringuse the surgeon may resect the patient's femur in a revision case usingthe trial.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,980 discloses an instrument for shaping a femurpreparatory to implantation of a knee prosthesis. A gap checking deviceis fixed to the distal end of the patient's femur and referenced to theepicondyles of the femur. The gap checking device includes slots throughwhich a cutting instrument can be passed to shape the femur so that itcan receive the femoral component of the prosthesis. One of the slotsenables the distal femoral cut to be made. The thickness of the gapchecking device is selected so that the distance between the distalfemoral cut and the distal surface of the gap checking device plus thethickness of a shim resting on the cut proximal tibia surface is equalto the combined thickness of the tibial and femoral components of theprosthesis. This arrangement apparently enables balancing of theligaments to be checked before the femoral cuts are made, but while thegap checking device is secured to the femur.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,037 discloses femoral instrumentation for long stemsurgery, and provides a femoral drill guide with interchangeable femoralcollets, a femoral reamer, and a femoral anterior/posterior cuttingblock with an adaptable anterior femoral ledge. This instrumentationallows all cuts to be made relative to the long stem component of afemoral prosthesis which will fit in the hole formed by the reamer withthe collet and cutting block both oriented on the reamer, and all cutsmade by the surgeon will be oriented relative to the long stem or spikecomponent of the femoral prosthesis.

With many of the foregoing, except U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,010, it would becommon practice to make one or more cuts with a resection guide inplace, then move the guide aside in order to view the interface, toensure that sufficient bone has been removed to facilitate the mostideal cement interface between the resected bone and implant component.This trial-and-error process not only consumes valuable time during theoperation, but may lead to the removal of more bone stock than necessaryto achieve fixation. During revision arthroplasty, such trial-and-erroris complicated owing to the increased number of resected surfacesinvolved, and the need to ensure that these surfaces and the medullarystem are all properly aligned during the testing of trial implants andthe attachment of the final prosthetic device. In the event of amisalignment, the surgeon may choose to use a final implant having asmaller than optimal diameter stem, for example, to take up the slackupon discovering a slight misalignment with respect to the stem and theresected surfaces. As such, none of the forgoing methods or devices haveadequately provided surgeons with a way to easily locate resectionguides in relation to the patient's body during orthopedic procedures,such as, total knee replacement surgery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an axial height adjustable, revisioncutting guide in the shape of a final distal femur implant component. Inone embodiment, the revision guide includes a rod adapted for intimatecontact within an intramedullary canal of a femur following preparationof the canal to receive the rod. The rod includes a threaded passagewayextending longitudinally from a distal end, which is accessible when therod is installed within the canal. A shaped body of the revision cuttingguide is adapted for removable attachment to a distal portion of thefemur, and includes an outer surface configured to co-act in a joint andat least two bone-cutting guides are defined through the bodycorresponding to a level of bone resection. A vernier-bolt is rotatablypositioned through the shaped body of the revision cutting guide so asto be adjustably received within the threaded passageway therebyproviding for movement of the shaped body of the revision cutting guiderelative to the distal portion of the femur.

In another embodiment, a method is provided for implanting a condylarprosthesis onto the proximal aspect of a femur. A trial implant is firstprovided, in combination with a rod adapted for intimate contact withinan intramedullary canal of a femur following preparation of the canal toreceive the rod. The rod includes a threaded passageway extendinglongitudinally from a distal end, which is accessible when the rod isinstalled within the canal. A trial implant body is adapted forremovable attachment to a distal portion of the femur. The trial implantbody includes an outer surface configured to co-act in a joint and atleast two bone-cutting guides are defined through the trial implant bodycorresponding to a level of bone resection. A vernier-bolt is rotatablypositioned through the trial implant body so as to be adjustablyreceived within the threaded passageway. The trial implant body ispositioned on the distal aspect of the femur such that the vernier-boltis threadingly received within the threaded passageway. By then rotatingthe vernier-bolt so as to move the trial implant body relative to thedistal aspect of the femur, adjustments may be made to the position ofthe trial implant relative to the femur A shaping tool is positionedwith one of at least two bone-cutting guides, and then moved along oneof the at least two bone-cutting guides so as to resect a selectedportion of the femur exposed through the opening. A trial reduction ofthe knee joint is performed while the trial implant body remains seatedon the distal aspect of the femur.

In another embodiment, an adjustable trial/cutting guide is provided foruse in conjunction with knee joint-revision surgery. An intramedullaryrod is provided that is adapted for intimate contact within anintramedullary passageway of a femur following preparation of thepassageway to receive the intramedullary rod. The intramedullary rodincludes a finely threaded passageway extending longitudinally from adistal end, which is accessible when the rod is installed within thepassageway. An adjustable trial/cutting guide is adapted for removableattachment to a distal portion of the femur. The adjustabletrial/cutting guide includes an outer surface defining an intercondylarnotch configured to co-act in a joint and at least two bone-cuttingguides defined through the adjustable trial/cutting guide correspondingto a level of bone resection. A vernier-bolt is rotatably positionedthrough the intercondylar notch so as to be operably and adjustablyreceived within the threaded passageway thereby providing for movementof the adjustable trial/cutting guide relative to the distal portion ofthe femur to thereby locate the at least two bone-cutting guides forresection of the femur.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will bemore fully disclosed in, or rendered obvious by, the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which are tobe considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein likenumbers refer to like parts and further wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in phantom, of anadjustable trial/cutting guide formed in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention, illustrated to reflect completed assembled toa distal portion of a femur;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the adjustable trial/cutting guideshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of the adjustable trial/cutting guideshown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the adjustable trial/cutting guideformed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned view of the adjustable trial/cuttingguide, as taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the adjustable trial/cutting guide shownin FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, but with an intramedullary rod positionedwithin a longitudinal canal formed within the femur;

FIG. 8 a is similar to FIG. 8, but with a bushing disposed on a distalend of the intramedullary rod positioned within the longitudinal canal;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, but showing an initial engagement of avernier bolt with a distal portion of the intramedullary rod so as allowcontrolled movement of adjustable trial/cutting guide toward or awayfrom the distal end of the femur;

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9, but showing a further longitudinaladjustment of the adjustable trial/cutting guide on the distal end ofthe femoral bone;

FIG. 11 is a partially cross-sectioned view, similar to FIGS. 7-10showing adjustable trial/cutting guide located on the distal end of thefemur, as adjusted by the vernier bolt, with phantom saw bladesillustrated to show possible resection options available to the surgeon;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a bushing that may coupled to anend of the intramedullary rod shown in FIG. 8 be used as a spacer;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the bushing shown in FIG. 12 taken alongline A-A;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the bushing shown in FIG. 12 taken alongline B-B; and

FIG. 15 is another side elevational view of a bushing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This description of preferred embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description of this invention. The drawingfigures are not necessarily to scale and certain features of theinvention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematicform in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In the description,relative terms such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top” and“bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,”“downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to theorientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figure underdiscussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description andnormally are not intended to require a particular orientation. Termsincluding “inwardly” versus “outwardly,” “longitudinal” versus “lateral”and the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relativeto an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, asappropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, suchas “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship whereinstructures are secured or attached to one another either directly orindirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable orrigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly describedotherwise. The term “operatively connected” is such an attachment,coupling or connection that allows the pertinent structures to operateas intended by virtue of that relationship. In the claims,means-plus-function clauses, if used or implied, are intended to coverthe structures described, suggested, or rendered obvious by the writtendescription or drawings for performing the recited function, includingnot only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

The present invention solves many of the problems in the art byproviding an axial height adjustable, revision cutting guide in theshape of a final distal femur implant component, thereby ensuring thatonce the guide is removed, the final implant component will inherentlymatch the executed resections, thereby saving considerable time whileimproving accuracy. Referring to FIGS. 1-5, an adjustable trial/cuttingguide 5 formed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention issimilar to that employed in most knee prosthetics in that it comprisesan anterior flange 8, a pair of posterior condylar flanges 10 and 12,and a distal femur contacting surface 14. A distal joint surface 16corresponds to the natural distal femoral surface of the human kneeincluding condylar surfaces 19 and 21 for cooperation with thecorresponding end of a tibia (not shown). Structures for patellartracking along the arc of the joint surface of the anterior flange 8 andbetween the distal condylar surfaces 19 and 21 is also provided onadjustable trial/cutting guide 5.

One or more guide slots 23 are defined in portions of anterior flange 8and posterior condylar flanges 10 and 12 that are sized and oriented toaccept corresponding saw blades 24 (FIG. 11) to allow for resection ofbone while adjustable trial/cutting guide 5 is positioned on distalfemur 27. Instead of including an intramedullary locating shaft ondistal femur contacting surface 14, the present invention defines aprecisely threaded through-bore 29 within an anterior notch 30 formed inadjustable trial/cutting guide 5. A corresponding protrusion 31 projectsoutwardly from distal femur contacting surface 14 between posteriorcondylar flanges 10 and 12 (FIGS. 1, 4, and 5). Through-bore 29communicates between surface 16 of anterior flange 8 and distal femurcontacting surface 14, and accepts a complementarily threadedvernier-bolt 32. Vernier-bolt 32 provides for fine adjustments to theposition of adjustable trial/cutting guide 5 relative to distal femur 27during the trial phase of total knee replacement surgery, as will bemore fully disclosed in detail below. An intramedullary rod 35 (FIG. 6)is used in combination with adjustable trial/cutting guide 5, and has ablind bore 37 defined at its distal most end 39. The interior wall ofintramedullary rod 35, that defines blind bore 37, includes a finethread 40 that is complementary to the fine thread, i.e., an accurateand precise helical thread, defined on the outer surface of vernier-bolt32.

FIGS. 12-15 illustrate one example of a tapered bushing 60 that may becoupled to the distal end of the intramedullary rod 35. As best seen inFIG. 13, the bushing 60 defines a through hole 62 having a firstdiameter D1. A proximal end 64 of the bushing 60 may define an openinghaving a diameter D2 that is larger than the diameter D1 defined by thedistal end 66 of bushing 60. A groove 68 may be formed on an interiorsurface 70 of proximal end 64 of bushing 60. One or more fins 72 mayextend along a length an exterior surface 74 of bushing 60 as best seenin FIGS. 12, 14, and 15. The longitudinal fins 76 work as ananti-rotational feature to prevent bushing 60 from rotating wheninstalled in an intramedullary cavity as described below. Bushing 60 maybe provided in a variety of sizes as will be understood by one skilledin the art. Example sizes of bushing 60 include, but are not limited to,16 mm, 18 mm, 20 mm, 22 mm, and 24 mm.

During a total knee replacement procedure, the present inventionprovides a trial component that offers the surgeon the possibility toperform flexion trials, as well as, resection procedures without theneed to remove the trial prosthesis from the distal femur. Thestructural arrangement of adjustable trial/cutting guide 5 enables it tobe placed in the joint space following initial resection of the distaland posterior femur. Preferably, the resection of the posterior anddistal surfaces of the medial and lateral condyles is kept to the leastamount necessary. In addition, each condyle is preferably resectedindependently of the other and separate augments are selected for testfitting adjustable trial/cutting guide 5 and for implantation of thefinal femoral implant component. These initial cuts may be standardizedfor a typical range of knee sizes or the cuts may be made on anindividual basis according to the needs of the particular patient. Thefunction of the patient's knee may be checked as well as therelationship of adjustable trial/cutting guide 5 to the soft tissues ofthe joint. Although the correct size adjustable trial/cutting guide 5and, thereby, the prosthesis will usually be determined before surgery,it may be necessary, following initial resection, to adjust to analternative size component in order to tighten the flexion and extensiongaps. The present invention facilitates this process by permitting thesizes to be tested and the distal femur to be further resected, asneeded, before the final prosthesis is implanted.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7-11, intramedullary rod 35 is first locatedwithin a longitudinally extending a pre-drilled canal 50 formed in theintercondylar notch and upwardly through the femur along the femoralshaft axis. A mouth 52 is defined at the distal most end of femur 27,and is sized to receive protrusion 31 projecting outwardly from distalfemur contacting surface 14 between posterior condylar flanges 10 and 12of adjustable trial/cutting guide 5. With intramedullary rod 35 locatedwithin a longitudinally extending canal 50 (FIG. 8) adjustabletrial/cutting guide 5 is assembled to distal femur 27 by arrangingvernier-bolt 32 in coaxially aligned, spaced relation to blind bore 37defined at distal most end 39 of intramedullary rod 35. In revisionsurgical procedures, bushing 60 may be disposed at the distal end of theintramedullary rod 35 to fill space that may have formed around an oldimplant as shown in FIG. 8 a. Providing bushing 60 in various sizes asdescribed above enables a surgeon to select an appropriate sizedepending on the condition of the intramedullary cavity. The taperedlengthwise fins 76 prevent rotation of the intramedullary rod 35.

Once in this position, adjustable trial/cutting guide 5 is moved towardintramedullary rod 35 such that the free end of vernier-bolt 32 enterblind bore 37 so as to threadingly engage fine thread 40 (FIG. 9).Adjustable trial/cutting guide 5 may then be move toward or away fromdistal femur 27, parallel with the mechanical axis of femur 27, byclockwise or counter clockwise rotation of vernier-bolt 32. As a resultof the finely threaded, complementary threads of vernier-bolt 32 andthread 40, small longitudinal adjustments may be made in the position ofadjustable trial/cutting guide 5 relative to femur 27. In this way,trial flexions and extensions of the joint may be made, with adjustmentsto the axial position of adjustable trial/cutting guide 5 on distalfemur 27 being made via engagement of vernier-bolt 32 withintramedullary rod 35.

Once correct working of the joint is established, including balancing ofthe soft tissues, anterior chamfer and anterior flange resection may beaccomplished through cutting guides 23 (FIG. 11) without need forremoving adjustable trial/cutting guide 5 thereby ensuring that thesecuts are made in the correct locations relative to the intramedullarycanal and at the correct angles relative to the intramedullary stem.Because the system of revision for which adjustable trial/cutting guide5 is intended uses the intramedullary canal of the femur as a referencepoint, the angle established between the intramedullary shaft and theanterior flange of an implant is constant through all sizes of suchimplants.

It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limitedonly to the particular constructions herein disclosed and shown in thedrawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within thescope of the claims.

1. Apparatus for use in conjunction with knee joint-replacement surgery,the apparatus comprising: a rod adapted for intimate contact within anintramedullary canal of a femur following preparation of said canal toreceive said rod, said rod including a threaded passageway extendinglongitudinally within said rod from a distal end, which is accessiblewhen said rod is installed within said canal; a shaped body adapted forremovable attachment to a distal portion of said femur, said bodyincluding an outer surface configured to co-act in a joint and at leasttwo bone-cutting guides defined through said body corresponding to alevel of bone resection; and a vernier-bolt rotatably positioned throughsaid body so as to be adjustably received within said threadedpassageway thereby providing for movement of said body relative to saiddistal portion of said femur.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid shaped body comprises an adjustable trial/cutting guide having ananterior flange, a pair of posterior condylar flanges, and a distalfemur contacting surface.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein saidshaped body comprises a distal joint surface that corresponds to anatural distal femoral surface and condylar surfaces.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 3 wherein said shaped body comprises at least oneguide slots defined in portions of said anterior flange and saidposterior condylar flanges that are sized and oriented so as to acceptcorresponding saw blades to allow for resection of bone.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 4 wherein said shaped body comprises a preciselythreaded through-bore within an anterior notch.
 6. Apparatus accordingto claim 5 wherein said shaped body comprises a protrusion that projectsoutwardly from said distal femur contacting surface between posteriorcondylar flanges wherein said through-bore communicates between saiddistal joint surface and said distal femur contacting surface. 7.Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said vernier-bolt is operativelylocated within said through-bore so as to provide for fine adjustmentsto the position of said body relative to a distal femur during a trialphase of total knee replacement surgery.
 8. Apparatus according to claim1 wherein said rod comprises a blind bore passageway defined at a distalmost end and said thread is complementary to a thread defined on anouter surface of said vernier-bolt.
 9. A method for implanting acondylar prosthesis onto the proximal aspect of a femur comprising thesteps of: (a) providing a trial implant including, in combination, a rodadapted for intimate contact within an intramedullary canal of a femurfollowing preparation of said canal to receive said rod, said rodincluding a threaded passageway extending longitudinally within saidstem from a distal end, which is accessible when said rod is installedwithin said canal; a trial implant body adapted for removable attachmentto a distal portion of said femur, said trial implant body including anouter surface configured to co-act in a joint and at least twobone-cutting guides extending through said trial implant bodycorresponding to a level of bone resection; and a vernier-bolt rotatablypositioned through said trial implant body so as to be adjustablyreceived within said threaded passageway; (b) positioning said trialimplant body on the distal aspect of the femur such that saidvernier-bolt is threadingly received within said threaded passageway;(c) rotating said vernier-bolt so as to move said trial implant bodyrelative to said distal aspect of said femur; (d) positioning a shapingtool with one of said at least two bone-cutting guides; (e) moving saidshaping tool along said one of said at least two bone-cutting guides soas to resect a selected portion of the femur exposed through theopening; and (d) performing a trial reduction of the knee joint, whilesaid trial implant body remains seated on the distal aspect of thefemur.
 10. An adjustable trial/cutting guide for use in conjunction withknee joint-revision surgery comprising, in combination: anintramedullary rod adapted for intimate contact within an intramedullarypassageway of a femur following preparation of said passageway toreceive said intramedullary rod, said intramedullary rod including afinely threaded passageway extending longitudinally from a distal end,which is accessible when said rod is installed within said passageway;an adjustable trial/cutting guide adapted for removable attachment to adistal portion of said femur, said adjustable trial/cutting guideincluding an outer surface defining an intercondylar notch configured toco-act in a joint and at least two bone-cutting guides defined throughsaid adjustable trial/cutting guide corresponding to a level of boneresection; and a vernier-bolt rotatably positioned through saidintercondylar notch so as to be adjustably received within said threadedpassageway thereby providing for movement of said adjustabletrial/cutting guide relative to said distal portion of said femur tothereby locate said at least two bone-cutting guides for resection ofsaid femur.
 11. An adjustable trial/cutting guide according to claim 10wherein said adjustable trial/cutting guide comprises an anteriorflange, a pair of posterior condylar flanges, and a distal femurcontacting surface.
 12. An adjustable trial/cutting guide according toclaim 11 wherein said outer surface of said adjustable trial/cuttingguide comprises a distal joint surface that corresponds to a naturaldistal femoral surface and condylar surfaces.
 13. An adjustabletrial/cutting guide according to claim 12 wherein said adjustabletrial/cutting guide comprises at least two guide slots defined inportions of said anterior flange and said posterior condylar flangesthat are sized and oriented so as to accept corresponding saw blades toallow for resection of bone.
 14. An adjustable trial/cutting guideaccording to claim 13 comprising a finely threaded through-bore definedthrough said intercondylar notch.
 15. An adjustable trial/cutting guideaccording to claim 14 comprising a protrusion that projects outwardlyfrom said distal femur contacting surface between posterior condylarflanges and in aligned relation to said intercondylar notch wherein saidthrough-bore communicates between said distal joint surface and saiddistal femur contacting surface.
 16. An adjustable trial/cutting guideaccording to claim 15 wherein said vernier-bolt is operatively locatedwithin said through-bore so as to provide for fine adjustments to theposition of said adjustable trial/cutting guide relative to a distalfemur during a trial phase of total knee replacement surgery.